Craig Vance hardly remembers the moment he collapsed inside the State Capitol. He later found out a complete stranger saved his life.

Craig Vance hardly remembers the moment he collapsed inside the State Capitol. He later found out a complete stranger saved his life.

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Updated: 10:14 PM CST Mar 8, 2016

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WEBVTT CAPITOL, LATER FINDING OUT A COMPLETE STRANGER SAVED HIS LIFE. >> IF YOU FEEL CHEST PAINS, YOUR BODY IS TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. I DIDN'T LISTEN. RYAN: CRAIG VANCE OF DES MOINES SAYS HE FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY. IGNORING SIGNS OF DISTRESS IS A COMMON PRECURSOR TO A HEART ATTACK. >> IT HAPPENED SO FAST THAT I DO NOT, I DIDN'T FEEL MY HEAD IT -- MY HEAD HIT THE FLOOR. THAT'S HOW FAST I WAS UNCONCIOUS. AND I BARELY REMEMBER ANY OF THE REST OF IT. RYAN: WHAT VANCE DOES REMEMBER IS VISITING THE STATE CAPITOL THREE WEEKS AGO. HE WAS THERE TO GET A PHOTO I.D. FOR A NEW JOB. THEN, DARKNESS. >> I'VE GONE THROUGH SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T SURVIVE. RYAN: VANCE IS ON HIS FEET TODAY THANKS, IN LARGE PART, TO A COMPLETE STRANGER TAKING ACTION. SOMEONE PERFORMED CPR BEFORE MEDICS COULD ARRIV LUCKY, VANCE REALIZES, THE HEART ATTACK HAPPENED IN A PUBLIC PLACE. >> ALL I KNOW IS I'D BE DEAD. I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD. THEY TOLD ME ANYBODY AROUND YOU, YOU'RE AT HOME. I COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING A CAR. NO, I STOPPED THINKING ABOUT IT THEN. IT COULD HAVE BEEN MAJOR CATASTROPHE. RYAN: NOW, WITH THE GASH ON HIS HEAD HEALING, VANCE IS RECOVERING FROM OPEN HEART SURGERY AND HOPES TO SOON MEET , THE MAN OR WOMAN WHO PERFORMED LIFE-SAVING CPR. >> TO THIS PERSON WHO SAVED MY LIFE, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. GOD WAS WITH ME. YOU WERE THERE AT THE RIGHT TIME. RYAN: ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN

Man survives heart attack thanks to complete stranger

Craig Vance hardly remembers the moment he collapsed inside the State Capitol. He later found out a complete stranger saved his life.